"Snakes......I hate snakes", Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr
Real men kill snakes with sticks. If not a real man, then screaming usually attracts enough attention and someone will volunteer to beat the snake into a pulp for you. (pretty much any male over age twelve will be willing to do this)
Using a stick is superior to a gun because:
Quieter (except for your screaming)
No reload needed (unless you break your stick)
Sticks don't richochet
Sticks require little practice
Sticks come in various lengths to suit the users ability
Sticks require no permit (as of today)
MommaChaCha ..... If I shoot the snake while it's up on the rafters in the barn, will it put a hole in the barn, and/or will there be any ricochet of the shot back towards me?
It depends on how close you are to the rafters/roof.
From 20' away I doubt you'll put a hole through your barn roof with #9 shot or have any pellets richochet back at you..........but then your pattern will be a little less dense. Closer than 20'? Depends on what your barn roof is made of. Get a sheet of plywood or tin and test how far away you need to be to keep from putting in a new skylight.
But first...........
If you have snakes in your barn it's because they have a food source.....usually mice/rats/assorted vermin. Get rid of those creatures and you'll rarely see a snake in the barn, and when you do you'll know he's there eating your barn rats. Kill off your "good" snakes and guess what happens? You get more vermin and eventually more snakes.
